All at once, a colossal, humanoid figure burst forth from the churned earth, scrambling up with a muddy clatter. It retained the basic form of a boar-man, but the most arresting feature was the thick mantle of long quills draped across its back down to its rump! It looked like a grotesque hybrid of a porcupine and a man.

Its outer skin was similarly thick, rough, and fissured like aged tortoise shell, clearly indicating formidable natural defense. Only the temporary crystal forming between its brows was identical in shape to the one on Ramtas, though the color differed markedly.

Ramtas used its crystal to channel natural power, hence its pale green hue, but the crystal adorning this creature’s brow was a visceral, blood-red!

In close combat, it could adopt the template of a shield-warrior, utilizing a large bone club alongside its natural armor. However, when engaging in ranged attacks, it would flatten itself to the ground, causing the numerous bristles along its spine to erupt. These bristles, nearly a foot long and as thick as a finger, were wickedly sharp, gleaming with a fierce, bloody light and covered in natural barbs!

Through muscle contraction, the maximum effective range of these quills reached one hundred and fifty meters, with the optimal range being between fifty and one hundred meters. Thanks to the crystal in its brow providing constant ballistic correction, its accuracy was quite exceptional.

"Master," the boar-man bowed deeply before Fang Senyan, "I, the mighty Ramtas, am reborn and ready to fight for you (oink!)"

Fang Senyan was taken aback: "You still retain your previous memories?"

The creature nodded: "I am Ramtas! The strongest of the boar-men warriors."

The "native" humans were utterly dumbfounded. In their understanding, cultivating combat beasts through genetic technology wasn't science fiction. But for Fang Senyan to skillfully employ alchemical tools from the fifteenth or sixteenth centuries of the Old Earth era, creating a living combat organism in mere minutes under these conditions, was entirely beyond their comprehension. The way they looked at Fang Senyan instantly became tinged with reverence.

As for Fang Senyan and his party, their self-introduction to the locals was: "Special Forces operatives. Possessing extraordinary strength; highly classified by the Empire."

The locals had initially been skeptical, as many among them had access to fairly high-level secrets. But witnessing the sheer power Fang Senyan had just displayed, they were forced to believe.

However, for the subsequent actions, Fang Senyan did not seize command; instead, he insisted that Hadric and his group take the lead. After all, they should be far more familiar with the habits of the Ravaging Beasts. Delegating to the experts was the mark of a competent team leader.

At Fang Senyan's insistence, Hadric began to assume control. Strangely, he led his team not directly toward the Ravaging Beasts, but took a wide detour, adding at least ten kilometers to the journey. They headed upward, precisely following the river upstream from where Fang Senyan’s group had arrived. They skirted the edge of the plateau, instead following a tributary.

"The water from this tributary flows directly downstream into the territory of the Ravaging Beasts."

Hadric explained smoothly to Fang Senyan and the others, then added: "Based on our prior observations, the Ravaging Beasts exhibit a unique, rather bizarre tendency: autumnal hibernation. Bears, turtles, snakes—creatures like these enter hibernation in winter when food is scarce and hunting is difficult. But why would the Ravaging Beasts enter dormancy in autumn when food is abundant? There must be a reason behind it."

Hadric paused here, a grin spreading across his face: "Doctor eventually discovered that in autumn, a tree species upstream, called the 'Coiling Fir,' bears fruit that resembles dandelion clocks. Once ripe, the seeds scatter on the wind. The Coiling Fir seeds dissolve easily in water, causing a subtle chemical shift in the current. When this water flows through the swamps where the Ravaging Beasts dwell, it induces extreme aversion in them. Specifically, even a minute amount of Coiling Fir seed mixed in the water triggers a severe allergic reaction, causing the beasts intense itching and agony, forcing them to claw at their own skin until it bleeds profusely. While not fatal, this situation is analogous to human pollen allergies. Therefore, the Ravaging Beasts' autumn sleep is actually an attempt to avoid the period when the Coiling Fir fruits ripen across the hunting world."

Fang Senyan's eyes lit up as he listened to Hadric's explanation: "But it should be early summer right now..."

Hadric answered smugly: "The difference between men and animals lies in the use of tools. Ever since I learned that Laffey and the others had trouble in the swamp, I brought along a bottle of Coiling Fir seeds I collected last year."

Hadric then produced a standard-issue military canteen, army green, from his tunic, containing the seeds. Fang Senyan examined them closely and noted they were quite similar to the fruit of the Sycamore (Plane Tree) on Earth.

The fruit of the Earthly Sycamore, when ripe, looks like a small sphere, but squeezing it reveals a hard core surrounded by dense, dandelion-like tufts of seeds. The Coiling Fir seeds, however, were slightly larger than Earth's Sycamore fruit—about the size of a goose egg—but much fluffier, scattering easily in the slightest breeze.

Fang Senyan watched Hadric scoop two or three handfuls of the Coiling Fir seeds and sprinkle them into the water. The seeds dissolved almost instantly, as if sugar or salt had mixed into the stream. Hadric then carefully salvaged the majority of the remaining seeds.

Ronnie frowned, watching the dark water slowly drift toward the swamp, and questioned skeptically: "Will this small amount really be effective? Maybe we should add some more?"

Hadric shook his head like a rattle-drum: "It's enough; I've already increased the dosage. If we add much more, we risk inciting a mass panic among the Ravaging Beasts, causing them to cluster together and forcefully migrate. That would be counterproductive!"

The group waited for half an hour. It was the darkest period just before dawn. They crept stealthily toward the rear of the swamp harboring the Ravaging Beasts, like ghosts entering a village. Although Fang Senyan and his group remained highly vigilant, it soon became clear that such caution was unnecessary.

All the Ravaging Beasts had fled to the small island, and most were savagely tearing at their own skin with their claws, letting out indescribable roars even as blood streamed down them. In this condition, they were incapable of maintaining a proper watch or even basic cognitive function.

Through high-powered binoculars, they could see that most of the beasts' skin was covered in millet-sized rashes, clustered densely like toad skin—a sight that made one’s scalp tingle with anticipated itchiness and pain. Some of the Ravaging Beasts had even begun attacking each other wildly, seemingly hoping the intense physical pain would override the unbearable allergic reaction.

"It really works," Paul murmured.

Hadric just shrugged: "Unfortunately, this is as far as I can take it—just make them miserable. I have no means to kill them this way."

Fang Senyan suddenly asked: "It seems these Coiling Fir seeds aren't effective against the Xenomorphs, are they?"

Hadric nodded: "Xenomorphs are incredibly powerful creatures whose genes evolve very rapidly; they are immune."

Fang Senyan gazed across the island crowded with agitated Ravaging Beasts, then turned to Aldarice: "If you could get close enough to unleash a Mind Storm, we would reap incredible rewards."

By this time, Fang Senyan and his group had gathered crucial intelligence from Hadric’s faction: the relationship between the Ravaging Beasts and the Xenomorphs wasn't the expected master-slave dynamic, but rather a peculiar symbiotic arrangement.

On Earth, many ants and aphids form symbiotic bonds; ants favor the sweet secretions produced by aphids as food, and in return, ladybugs that prey on aphids are driven off by the ants.

Similarly, Xenomorphs secrete a unique acidic mucus. Even when diluted by water, this mucus has a remarkable effect on a specific type of parasitic worm, eradicating it entirely. This parasite is lethal to the Ravaging Beasts.

Consequently, Ravaging Beast packs living in association with Xenomorphs enjoy an average lifespan extended by 50%. This has led to a demonstrable fact: the population of Ravaging Beasts coexisting with Xenomorphs is invariably much larger than normal packs.

Fang Senyan estimated that the pack symbiotic with the Xenomorphs must number over a thousand. In last night's skirmish, Fang Senyan and his group had already killed two to three hundred. If they could eliminate another two to three hundred now while the beasts were incapacitated, the subsequent operation would be significantly easier.

Fang Senyan looked again at Aldarice. If he could cast a Mind Storm over the island... the resulting carnage would be staggering. However, Aldarice firmly rejected this unreasonable request. Based on his casting range, he would have to risk being ambushed by Xenomorphs in the swamp.

Most critically, Mind Storm required continuous concentration. If interrupted mid-cast, it would fail to achieve its maximum destructive potential.

Fang Senyan pondered for a moment, then conferred with Hadric. Hadric confirmed that since it was nighttime, their plant-based liquid secretion was highly effective at masking scent and movement, allowing Aldarice to approach the island undetected, but they could offer no further assistance.

Fang Senyan considered this, then spent time with Aldarice, emphasizing several crucial details repeatedly. Finally, Aldarice stared intently at the dark swamp for a while, before reluctantly nodding his assent. (This site... Your support is my greatest motivation.) .RT